Patent · US Expired

Switch with flexible conductor foil

US5967300A · kind A · utility

6Cited by

3References

25Claims

0Family size

Assignee

ITT MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES LLC · US

Inventors

Walter Hecht · Ravensburg, DE
Bertram Gotzinger · Oedheim, DE
Rudolf Klein · Oberhausen, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Sep 2, 1998
Grant date	Oct 19, 1999
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Sep 2, 2018

Classification

Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
CPC primaryH01H2001/5816
WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A switch used with steering column assemblies includes a switch mechanism provided at the end of a switch lever. To provide a low-priced and reliable connection between the switch, mechanism and connector contacts in the housing of the steering column switch, a flexible conductor foil is used. The foil is not laid within the hollow interior of the switch lever. The switch lever is rather formed of two parts between which the conductor foil is guided. In advantageous embodiments, the contacts of the conductor foil are directly used as stationary switch contacts, the switch lever is manufactured by utilizing internal gas pressure, and the switching foil contacts are reinforced with contact plates.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.